India has suspended visa services for Canadian citizens because of security threats to its staff in its consulates in Canada, India’s foreign ministry spokesperson said on Thursday.
“The security situation because of Canadian government’s inaction has resulted in disruptions and we have suspended visa applications,” Arindam Bagchi, the South Asian country’s foreign ministry spokesperson, told reporters.
At the same time Bagchi complained that there is “discrimination” in how visas are being issued to Indians by Canada.
Tensions between the two countries escalated earlier this week when Canada said that it was “actively pursuing credible allegations” linking Indian government agents to the murder of a Sikh separatist leader in British Columbia in June.
Indian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said that New Delhi is seeking the extradition of more than 20 people from Canada.
Several people living in Canada, including Sikh separatists, have been designated by India as “terrorists” in recent years, and it is seeking to prosecute them back in India.
Bagchi also said during the press conference that Ottowa needs to “take action against extremist, terrorists, and organised crime.”